October 19, 2017

Community Engagement
Community Engagement
Positive Youth
Development
Positive Staff Because Every Youth Counts
Development

Event Calendar

10/20 - 10/22 - Covenant of

Peace, New Beginnings, 8400
River Rd., Laurel, MD 20724

10/24 - "Think Pink" Survivors

Dinner, YSC, Gymnasium, 5-7 pm

10/24 - New
Beginnings Employee Town
Hall, Auditorium, 5:45-8:45 am and
1:45-4:45 pm

10/26 - Sip & Stroll Lituation, MLK

Achievement Center, 2101 MLK Jr.
Ave. SE, 3-7 pm DYRS staff, youth, Credible Messengers, and partners enjoyed an
evening at the third annual Youth Count DC, an effort to learn more about
10/27 - Glow Up - DYRS Youth the housing needs of young people living in DC provided by the District
Council Open House, MLK Government and community-based organizations. Young people are
Achievement Center, 2101 MLK Jr. encouraged to complete surveys and once done they receive gift cards for
Ave. SE, 5:30-7:30 pm their participation. DYRS staff and Youth Council members provided
information on DYRS programs and services, and DYRS very own Youth
11/7 - DC ONE FUND event - YSC, Council member S.H. completed a survey and won a prize. All enjoyed
Community Room, 6:15 am, 2:!5 the sounds of TCB, High Quality Band, and DJ Flava of WKYS. If you are
pm, 10:15 pm 24-years-old or younger - or know someone that you know who is - and
are interested in helping this effort, visit the Achievement Center and
11/9 - DC ONE FUND event - 450/ complete a Youth Count DC Survey!
MLK, 450 H. Street NW, 12-3 pm

11/14 - YSC Employee Town Hall,

Community Room, 5:45-8:45 am Positive Youth Development
and 1:45-4:45 pm
11/21 - Achievement Center
Thanksgiving Dinner for youth
and families, 450 H. St. NW, 5:30 -
7:30 pm

11/28 - DC ONE FUND event for

New Beginnings, Front Lobby,
6:15 am, 2:!5 pm, 10:15 pm. In Solidarity We Rise

From October 11-13, the New Beginnings treatment team attended The
National Crittenton Foundation hosting of In Solidarity We Rise: Healing,
Opportunity and Justice for Girls (In Solidarity) conference in
Washington, DC.
The core to In Solidarity is in the leadership and engagement of girls and
Top: Senior Youth Development young women, and the use of a variety of approaches to learning,
Representative Chandler honoring culinary strategizing and connecting that are creative, intersectional, and two or
staff Kevin Hooks for outstanding culinary multigenerational.
work. Bottom: Deputy Superintendent In Solidarity focuses on three key components:
Shawn Dowell presenting SYDR Richardson
with an award as hes named Manager of HEALINGUnderstanding the root causes of trauma and
the Month. discovering new pathways to well-being,
OPPORTUNITY Exploring diverse and innovative ways
to support health, economic security and civic engagement
for girls, and
JUSTICE Catalyzing and strengthening the justice
reform for girls' movement.
The National Crittenton Foundation President Jeannette Pai-Espinosa
emphasizes in the conference brochure that Now more than ever, we
know that we must be unified in order to advance the needs and potential
of girls and young women who, through no fault of their own, live on the
margin of the American dream. But its not that simple. Why? Because
divide and conquer is a very powerful force. Given this reality In
Solidarity has been created as more than a conference. It has been
designed as an opportunity to connect, to be moved and energized, and
to strategize together with young women as leaders for change.

Congratulations to New Beginnings Youth

Development Center Nurse Practitioner
Christiana "KeeKee" Ekekwe, who earned
her Doctorate of Nursing Practice on
August 13!

Have you received your

FREE flu shot at a DYRS
flu clinic? View the list of
remaining times and
locations below!
450 H. Street - Conf.
Room 201
Monday, 10/23
10 am - 12 pm
MLK Achievement
A Journey of Self Empowerment
Center On Sunday, October 1, the young ladies of DYRS Journey program (past
Tuesday, 10/24 and present) had the opportunity to see Emmy Award-Winning Recording
Artist Solange Knowles in concert at the John F. Kennedy Center. The
10 am - 12 pm
young women and DYRS supporting staff watched from the front row as
Solange and the Sun Ra Akestra, under the direction of Marshall
Allen,delivered an electrifying live performance. The lyrics of Solanges
songs, which encourage self-empowerment much like those of her sister
<musical artist Beyonce>, resonated with the young ladies and left them
feeling emboldened. Her powerful performance left the Journey
guests feeling grateful for the experience. encouraged to learn more
about music, and motivated to visit the Kennedy Center again.

Save the Date: Open Enrollment

2018 begins Monday, November 13
and ends on Monday, December
Positive Staff Development
11, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. EST. This is
your annual opportunity to review
your current benefit elections and
make any necessary changes. See
below for a full schedule of Open
Enrollment Fairs.
 YSC Walks the Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness
On Tuesday, October 10, a multitude of staff at the Youth Services Center
(YSC) from all shifts walked close to eight miles in honor of Breast Cancer
awareness as part of the facility's "Think Pink" campaign, As members of
the community watched and inquired about the groups mission, the 30+
staff members also stopped to help paint a mural at DCs Union Market.
Since the onset of YSC's Think Pink efforts, the facility raised close to
$1700, which they are donating to a Breast Cancer organization that is
part of DC Government's larger DC One Fund Campaign. This doesnt
include funds raised at YSCs youth art showcase on October 17, where
our young people displayed the more than 30 pieces that they designed
for the initiative. DYRS applauds YSCs tremendous efforts in shining light
on Breast Cancer Awareness!